Merril Hoge rips Bruschi's play in Super Bowl

[BradyManny]

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=&categoryId=2459789

Pats on the clock on ESPN...

Hoge still hates the Pats, this time directing it towards Bruschi.

Mort still hates the Pats, claiming we wouldn't win the division without Moss.

Kiper still doesn't get the Pats, thinking we're going to draft DRC with #7.

Of those things, I guess the one that stuck out was Hoge's comments on Bruschi. I don't have game tape, and even if I did, I'm never watching that game again in my life unless it was some Clockwork Orange style pin my eye-lids open kind of thing.

I truly can't get a sense from this board for what the general feel on Bruschi's play the past few seasons is, because I would most certainly trust this board over Merril Hoge. I would like to think Bruschi is still playing at a high level, and the mere fact that he was re-signed for a decent deal tells me this is the case.

 

[letekro]

IMO, he's still solid against the run, and his smarts help him in coverage, but his playmaking days are clearly over. He's basically a JAG at this point, but an experienced, fairly competent one.

 

[AFPatsFan12]

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=&categoryId=2459789

Pats on the clock on ESPN...

Hoge still hates the Pats, this time directing it towards Bruschi.

Mort still hates the Pats, claiming we wouldn't win the division without Moss.

Kiper still doesn't get the Pats, thinking we're going to draft DRC with #7.

Of those things, I guess the one that stuck out was Hoge's comments on Bruschi. I don't have game tape, and even if I did, I'm never watching that game again in my life unless it was some Clockwork Orange style pin my eye-lids open kind of thing.

I truly can't get a sense from this board for what the general feel on Bruschi's play the past few seasons is, because I would most certainly trust this board over Merril Hoge. I would like to think Bruschi is still playing at a high level, and the mere fact that he was re-signed for a decent deal tells me this is the case.

Hoge is a huge dink who is incapable of objective analysis and would best be served working for the Steelers flagship as opposed to ESPN. BUT, having said that, I don't think he was all that off on Bruschi. From what I saw he was pushed around a quite bit, wasn't as big a playmaker as he was in past big games (which, to his credit, Hoge did acknowledge Tedy's impact in past years). We've been wondering aloud about Tedy's recent effectiveness for awhile now, so this isn't exactly earth shattering news....

Am I hallucinating, or was Mort, once upon a time a solid, objective, info-packed reporter? I remember looking forward to hearing from him on sportscenter, NFL Matchup, etc. Now? Just another Patriots-hating turd. Tough to take what anyone from that network says too seriously anymore...

 

[blackglass3]

He's not the player he was pre-stroke, but I would rather have him over guys like Beisel or Chad Brown.

 

[tobias funke]

I don't think he said anything differently than people had been saying here all season (or at least since Colvin went down).

But the point is that he wasn't expected to be playing every snap last year, and he definitely won't this year. Same with Seau. We never should have been in that precarious position with our LBs, but it's over and hopefully we won't make that mistake again.

I don't think Tedy thinks he played his best game in the Super Bowl, either.

 

[TOzgood]

He was right...He didn't "rip" Bruschi...he's being honest and sometimes the truth sucks. But lets be honest and take off the homer glasses. Bruschi IS a shell of his former self and it is time to let go or upgrade. I love Tedy and everything he's done for this organization, but we need youth and Bruschi can no longer get the job done.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

how can hoge be surprised at bruschi's decline especially since he had a stroke?

 

[Disco Volante]

Mort still hates the Pats, claiming we wouldn't win the division without Moss.

Kiper still doesn't get the Pats, thinking we're going to draft DRC with #7

They get paid to say this nonsense?

 

[Kontradiction]

Bruschi should be in a rotation with the youth that we draft this upcoming year. He HAS had a stroke so his decline in playing ability is no suprise. He obviously can't go all out every down anymore.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Bruschi is my favorite player pretty much, so there is NO bias against him from me but

the way people talk ehre, well some you'd think he'd be a good starter. Bruschi is signed to be a situational/depth guy, for that role he is perfect. As a starter, no. He's simply not capable of stopping RB's or covering them for a full 60 minutes. Hey, he's older now, post stroke, etc. What do people expect? That said, adding young LBs to this team will do the trick and make Bruschi more effective as he wont be getting worn down for 60 minutes.

 

[Excel]

My favorite was the quote "Without Moss they wouldn't even be able to win the division"

I literally said to myself "Wow"

 

[tuckeverlasting]

beleive it or not, there was a time when espn wasn't worthless. that's a long time ago.

 

[Deus Irae]

My favorite was the quote "Without Moss they wouldn't even be able to win the division"

I literally said to myself "Wow"

Well, the Patriots were just 3-13 the year before last, after all, right Mort?:bricks:

 

[SammyBlueCat]

beleive it or not, there was a time when espn wasn't worthless. that's a long time ago.

I remember the early 1980's too.

 

[BradyManny]

Well, the Patriots were just 3-13 the year before last, after all, right Mort?:bricks:

Yeah, I know. The Patriots have NEVER accomplished anything without Randy Moss. What would Brady be without him....

 

[BradyManny]

Bruschi is my favorite player pretty much, so there is NO bias against him from me but

the way people talk ehre, well some you'd think he'd be a good starter. Bruschi is signed to be a situational/depth guy, for that role he is perfect. As a starter, no. He's simply not capable of stopping RB's or covering them for a full 60 minutes. Hey, he's older now, post stroke, etc. What do people expect? That said, adding young LBs to this team will do the trick and make Bruschi more effective as he wont be getting worn down for 60 minutes.

Interesting, then what is Bruschi's role? Which downs will we see him on the field and what are his strengths/weaknesses at this point?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I watched the piece, but, I hasten to add, only because I found a clip on the globe webpage and clicked on it--i'm still boycotting ESPN on the air.

All in all, I didn't think the commentary was that bad.

They pointed out that, while the Pats hadn't let Spygate impact their play on the field, it's unknown how the SB loss will affect them. That's a fair point, since most teams don't do well afterwards.

I thought that the idiot Hoge couched his comments respectfully (maybe because ESPN suits have figured out that the network can't afford to be blackballed by the team that has the best storylines in the NFL) and since I haven't watched a tape of the game (and doubt I ever will), I really can't say that he was wrong about Brewski's play, especially since the D failed to hold the winning lead.

As for the draft, Kiper was giving his usual blather. His view on what the Pats need wasn't that far off the mark, if we disagree with his selection.

 

[FootballFanetic]

Speaking of Pats LBs, what do you guys see them doing this upcoming season? Will it be Thomas and Vrabel for sure as starters and then what? Are you guys looking at Rivers at #7, to go with a combo of Bruschi and Seau at the other spot, along with Hobson in the mix?

 

[tombonneau]

I don't know, most of what they said is legit. The biggest WTF that stood out to me is Kiper claiming a 3-4 is dictated by the LBs. Call me crazy, but I always thought that a proper 3-4 is dictated & anchored by an above-average DL that can occupy blockers and free up the LBs to make plays. But then again I'm not an NFL draftnik that had Mike Williams the #1 rated player in the 2005 draft.

 

[BradyManny]

I don't know, most of what they said is legit. The biggest WTF that stood out to me is Kiper claiming a 3-4 is dictated by the LBs. Call me crazy, but I always thought that a proper 3-4 is dictated & anchored by an above-average DL that can occupy blockers and free up the LBs to make plays. But then again I'm not an NFL draftnik that had Mike Williams the #1 rated player in the 2005 draft.

Co-sign about Kiper and the LBs. He's off the mark and what you said is exactly right. The 3-4 starts up front with stopping the run. If those guys can't absorb the OL, the LBs can't make plays. Kiper didn't know wtf he was talking about.